Black Watch Cabins

Ninety percent of the cabins are outside with most measuring a comfortable 160 square ft.; the largest outside cabins (except for suites) are on Lido Deck and measure a roomy 200 square ft. The superior outside cabins on Bridge, Lido and Main decks have picture windows while the remainder of the outside cabins located on Atlantic and Marina decks have portholes. Outside cabins on Bridge deck have views obstructed by lifeboats.

Each cabin on the Black Watch is bespoke and slightly different in measurement and lay-out due to there not being pre-fabricated building practices 40 years ago. Even amenities vary slightly within the same cabin grade.

The ship's luxury accommodations include three 550-square-ft. Premier Suites which comprise two cabins joined together creating a separate living and bedroom space. The soft furnishings and décor are deep-coloured red and maroon with dark wood furniture plus splashes of yellow accessories. The bathroom is generously sized with a bathtub and shower. The balcony spans the entire space and has wooden flooring as well as loungers. There are the amenities you would expect from any top of the range suite: plasma TV, coffee making facilities, mini-bar and stereo system.

There are six 440-square-ft. Marquee Suites, which are all situated on Marquee deck. These nine suites, which are the only accommodations with verandahs, also feature separate bedroom and sitting room, floor-to-ceiling windows, mini-bar, refrigerator, VCR and large bathrooms with shower and bathtub.

Three other categories of smaller suites -- deluxe (260 square ft.), bridge (260 square ft.) and junior (240 square ft.) come with bedroom and sitting room, shower and bathtub, refrigerator and TV. The Main Deck 5 Junior Suite was quite a comfortable size and has a double bed and seating area. Though lacking a balcony, it did have a mini-bar, plasma-screen TV and coffee-making facilities. The two single suites we viewed on Bridge Deck 8 were surprisingly spacious with similar soft furnishings to the Marquee Deck cabins. The Single Balcony Suite had a double-sized bed, mini-bar and bathroom with a bath, while the second, a Superior Single Balcony Cabin also had a double-sized bed but lacked a mini-bar. Both featured ample storage.

Our Main Deck 5 Superior Outside cabin had gold décor and twin, separated, beds (which cannot be put together because of the lay-out) but had a reasonable amount of space. (Note: Light came into the room due to short curtains.) There are two side-by-side built-in wardrobes, a desk with drawer space, coffee/tea making facilities, TV, hair dryer and a comfy chair and table. The bathroom had a shower and has recently been refurbished.

Atlantic Deck 4 outside cabins offer the same basic layout as our cabin on Deck 5 and, having just been refurbished with blue, cream and gold colours, looked bright and fresh. We viewed the 3-berth inside cabin on Marina Deck 3 and also a standard outside cabin which, again, were similar in size and amenities to our cabin on Deck 5.

Inside cabins are the smallest accommodations at 140 square ft. All cabins come with twin beds, bathroom with shower (some also have tubs) plus hairdryers, toiletries, desk with drawers, television with closed-circuit movie channels and BBC 24-hour news. Three floor-to-ceiling closets provide more than ample hanging and storage space.

There are four disabled cabins affording wider doors and very large, fully kitted bathrooms for those in wheelchairs.

There are a total of 67 cabins and suites with private balconies.

Cabin stewardesses work rapidly and efficiently and, like the dining room staff, maintain a "service with a smile" attitude.

Black Watch Cabin Reviews

The cabin was a good size with a separate sleeping area, the minus side was the noise above it owing to deck hands cleaning and moving chairs etc one morning at 2am the rest at 6am, with them also talking to each other, a number of other ...
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